This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable context menus on the taskbar for all or specific users in Windows 11.
The taskbar is a horizontal bar at the bottom of your desktop in Windows 11 that shows the Start menu
, Search, Task View, Widgets, Chat, File Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft Store icons aligned to the center by default. The taskbar corner includes the notification area icons, Quick Settings (Win+A), and Notification Center (Win+N) with the clock and calendar.The taskbar context menus include:
- Right click on taskbar for Taskbar settings.
- Right click on the Start button or press Win+X to open the Win+X Quick Link Menu.
- Right click on an icon on the taskbar to open its Jump List.
- Shift + Right click on an icon on the taskbar to open its context menu.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable taskbar context menus.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Taskbar Context Menus for Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Taskbar Context Menus for All Users using REG file
EXAMPLE: Taskbar context menus
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Two to configure the same policy.
1 Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.
2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Remove access to the context menus for the taskbar policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.
5 Enable Taskbar Context Menus
This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)
6 Disable Taskbar Context Menus
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)
7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
2 Enable Taskbar Context Menus for All Users
This is the default setting
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_taskbar_context_menus_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoTrayContextMenu"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoTrayContextMenu"=-3 Disable Taskbar Context Menus for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_taskbar_context_menus_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoTrayContextMenu"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoTrayContextMenu"=dword:000000014 Save the REG file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 Either restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink,
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